Ford will launch six new models in the next 18 months

Ford Malaysia recently had hosted a lunch meeting with selected members of the media and the top guys of Ford, who were on a very short business trip. In that meeting, a few things were discussed.

Ford has big plans for the Malaysian market. The American car company now considers Malaysia to be one of their most important markets this side of South East Asia and the world. Not surprising as Ford in Malaysia experience exceptional performance in 2011, something that they have not experienced since 1997.

Retail sales have risen to 145% from the previous year. It translates to 7,188 vehicles sold, of which 4,297 comes from the sales of the Fiesta. And, although the current Ford Focus and Ford Ranger are up for replacements, the company has recorded increased sales in both products. The Ranger sold 2,274 units (more than 17% increase) and the Focus sold 263 (an increase of 58%) last year.

Within the next 18 months, Ford will be launching six vehicles into the market. We already know two of the six – the Ranger and the Focus – that will be launched this year. They remain silent on the other four vehicles but hinted that there might be CBU models will be in the mix. These six products will also bring eight new powertrains. The list includes engines from the EcoBoost catalog as well as its diesel offerings.

Incidentally, the new Ford Ranger have already garnered more than 600 bookings and the numbers are expected to increase by the time the 4×4 truck is officially launched.

Ford will also add five more showrooms to its portfolio in 2012. They also have plans to convert some of the existing 42 showrooms into 3S centres as well, although no definite numbers are given.

The American car company also has a new global tagline called Go Further. In a nutshell it means that Ford is committed to instill the core characteristics of Quality, Green, Safe and Smart into all of their products. And to do so, Ford will be engaging closely with their partner-dealers, suppliers, the community and the employee to gauge customer needs, wants and satisfaction.

Chris Ng believes that all cars are made equal, and each one has its own unique story to tell. As such, the ex-advertising man is here doing what he truly loves, which is authoring the allegories and anecdotes of automobiles. Having served time in a motoring mag, he believes there's nothing more sublime than keeping the pedal floored and things burbling in top gear.

Very true. No point getting a very good car and a very good ecoboost engine when you have to wait so long for your parts. The service centres have zero knowledge and staff are so incompetent. The lie a lot as well. Buyers have to be aware that the parts are same price as BMW. So, if you think you are buying a cheap Fiesta, you might be forking out so much of money as if your car is an Alfa Romeo or a Jaguar.

Eh Datuk Lawrence, come to the ground lah once in a while and see the attitude of your service centres. They need lots of improvement. Motors should not just read profits but after sales is Equally important.

Mat Salleh from Ford come to Malaysia, do they just sit in the hotels, go to official MITI meetings and eat kuih lapis and minum teh tarik?

Or do they visit the showrooms, see the SC centres are up to par and speak to customers asking feedback? I really wonder what they do when they come down cause the SC centres are in real bad shape. Please don’t treat Malaysia as your dumping ground for old technologies. You should demand from your principle why newer engines such as your EcoBoost is not incorporated in the whole range.

Current generation fiesta is European. Not quite so for the focus. Globally designed, fair amount of design work in the US. So will the 2013 Mondeo. Although the Focus more German than Yank. Part of Ford global cars initiative.

European developed cars tend to have great ride and handling. More twisty bits and narrow lanes in Europe, while US roads are generally straighter and wider. Here’s to hoping that they won’t ruin 2013 Mondeo cracking handling since the car seems to carry over more Fusion gene than Mondeo’s.

The age of Ford rebadging Mazda is over, they have sold off their stake in the latter. That they have Mazda to plug the gaping hole in their range probably made them look at their European unit and made them realise what gems of cars they actually have across the pond.

American cars are more aimed at comfort, since they tend to have fewer corners but more potholes. Malaysia also has lots of potholes, so a softer ride can be a plus. From what I have experienced with the Galaxy it should be quite good for Malaysia. Not too soft, but also not too hard. Comfortable, reasonable. Only problem is it is wide! Malaysian roads are meant for narrower cars.

“The American car company now considers Malaysia to be one of their most important markets this side of South East Asia and the world,”

If this is so, how come my 2010 Ford Focus, when my side mirror got banged by a motorbike, Ford Malaysia took 3 whole months to replace the side mirror. Mind you, the side mirror is the most common part to be knocked down in Malaysia. Everybody has their side mirror knocked at least once in their lives in Malaysia.

But Ford Malaysia took a whole 3 months to replace this part. Contrast with my Honda City, it took Honda Malaysia to replace it within 2 hours including labour and parts.

It easier if you buy it yourself..less time but need more effort..if you lazy type person no more i can said, it common for young malaysian nowaday…..i buy saga side mirror myself than ask SC to pasang less than 20min even faster than 2hour for your honda..easy jigsy…it common today business dont like keeping stock…

See, that’s the fundamental difference between a PROTON customer and a Ford customer. The former has learnt that they don’t deserve service because “it’s a PROTON maaa”, while the latter demands service because he bought a car at a premium price.
But if Ford, or more precisely Sime Darby continues to take this lackadaisical attitude towards customer service, it will be soon that customers will walk away. PROTON? They will be saved by the government anyway…

What a brilliant idea. Next time you want to go surgery, doctor not free, just go out and buy surgical tools and operate on yourself. Your idea is superb. You must be a visionary and prospective CEO with your fantastic suggestion. Are you from Uitm?

Really now??? they look optimistic in so suddenly doing so many things but a simple warranty honoring takes them ages to revert and then incompetency of technical knowledge of their own cars make them look really bad.. if at the moment they are struggling with the aftersales support for Focus, Fiesta, Mondeo and Rangers, what more if they add another few more new models to the line up?

It looks as if all the smaller brands like Hyundai, Suzuki, Ford, Peugeot, etc has problems honouring the warranty judging by the comments users post here.

How true is it? It’s just taking time or are they keeping their mouths shut when a customer claims warranty?

Either way if its true the above then the lesser brands will never grow properly here. After sales support is just as important, if not more important, than selling the car. I don’t wanna call some 3rd party tow truck when my car breaks down nor do I want to wait for a month just to claim a simple warranty.

nice,,,bring more models so that malaysians have more varieties n there will be healthy competition among car sellers here so that malaysians will not get rip off by overpriced ckd cars sold at 160 k but old specs

Sorry to disappoint you and a whole bunch of readers but Ford Malaysia has confirmed that we will NEVER see the 1.0 or 1.6 Ecoboost engines in the Focus. We will only get the crappy 2.0 Normally Aspirated Engine. By the way, in the UK, the 1.0 Ecoboost in the Focus is a best seller. You get a great car that drives like a BMW, full of power of a 2.0 and yet the economy of a TDi (diesel) engine.

MIDA won’t allow the 1.0 Ecoboost engine in Malaysia cause the car will technically be known as a 1 litre car. So, the price must be lesser than RM90k and this will wipe our the Proton Preve. At the end of the day politics rule and Malaysians are made to be like fools, funding and feeding the cronies to build bigger mansions and buying Porsche and Ferraris

If Ford can on par with VW and bring down your price little definitely will gain market share. Please also play around with the secondary market value, this is Malaysia, we look at this. Improve your sales & service center, the personnel. Don’t fool us like H & T safety features offer in Malaysia. Ford branding is just like Volvo however not as pricy as Volvo, if you were really done well on the secondary market value on your car, Volvo owner might migrate to Ford.

Ford is one of my favorites. It’s fun to drive, usually equipped with good sound system. I personally think it’s better than Korean made. Somehow the Americans think it’s not as reliable as the Japanese made. But I think it all changed now.

Ford make good cars. However, Spare parts here are so rare and expensive. Some parts like the steering rack is more expensive that a BMW. I was contemplating to get a focus but end up with a Honda instead.

Haven’t driven a Ford since my first car, a 2 door Escort in NZ then an Escort Station Wagon in London in the 80’s. Would love to see the latest 2.2 Ranger diesel in the Escape or Everest or better still the much anticipated EcoSport.

Profit margins for the Fiesta probably aren’t so high, since the price for a Fiesta sedan in Malaysia is similar to the price of a Fiesta hatchback with similar specs in Germany (I’m comparing to the sedan since the Sport comes without all the safety features) (btw. the German version doesn’t have the PowerShift/DSG). And that is including the high taxes, so they offer the car for a similar price, but in Malaysia they have to deduct around 75% taxes while in Germany it’s 19%.

Don’t count on US. Most of their MNCs just care about money, money and money. All they talk is about investors’ interests, investments, etc. Please get some investors who are really passionate about developing car technologies (other than this Sime Darby). Quality products and services will ensure revenue inflow and customers loyalty, not all the sales and marketing gimmicks.

if you jenis pakai kete for 5,6 or even 10,years and dengan izin Allah you wil look back happy,puas hati,with the choice u make and u will fall in love for the car for her wonderfull service and memoris all tis years,you will past it to the children…this is ford lah,built to last..
Overall the car feels 70% of golf gti,and cost? 50% less than a golf gti…IMO.
I think the new ford are better,but i love diesel engine… if only they got the diesel version,ada ke FORD?diesel version in malaysia?

With so many Ford Escapes in the country, they only have 1 set of wheel bearings in their store. I have to wait 2-3 weeks for my parts which are still under warranty. In the mean time I have to drive around town at 60km on my broken wheel bearings. Ridiculous!

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